Two-man stepladder or step stool



TWO-MAN STEPLADDER 0R STEP STOOL March 17, 1970 M. J. STERN TWO-MAN STEPLADDER 0R STEP STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet z Filed D190. 30. 1968 lN'vENToR M ELVIN J. STERN BYMM, Wpu Ue/Jy ATTORNEYS mlhml United States Patent O 3,500,957 TWO-MAN STEPLADDER OR STEP STOOL Melvin J. Stern, McComb, Miss., assignor to Craft Metal Products, Inc., McComb, Miss., a corporation of Mississippi Filed Dec. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 787,757 Int. Cl. E06c 1/383, 7/16 U.S. Cl. 182--104 8 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The two-ladder sections of a stepladder or stool are pivotally joined at one end by top step members, one step member being pivoted to each ladder section and the two members being pivoted to each other. Spreader bars are pivotally connected to the side rails of the ladder sections and to each other, and a further link extends from the pivot joining each pair of spreader bars to the pivot joining the top step members to thus form a linkage system which controls the movements of the ladder sections both during opening and during closing of the sections relative to each other. The further link is of T-shaped cross section to present a flange to extend Ibetween the ladder sections whereby to be clamped or sandwiched therebetween when the ladder is collapsed or folded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In two-man stepladders or step stools, the two pivotally connected ladder sections are normally provided with spreader ibars which serve to limit the spread of the ladder sections and thereby prevent them from further separation during use. When the ladder is collapsed or folded, the spreader bars serve little or no function and the ladder sections may fold off center with respect to each other and are easily subjected to racking or twisting if carelessly manipulated to folded position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the two ladder sections are not directly pivotally connected to each other, but are, instead, pivotally joined by means of two top step members, each of which is pivotally connected to a corresponding ladder section and the two top step members being pivotally interconnected to each other. Spreader bars are provided on each side of the ladder, there being a pair of such spreader bars on each side, the spreader bars being pivotally connected at one end to their respective side rails of the ladder sections and pivotally joined together at their inner ends and a further link extends from the pivot connecting the spreader bars to the pivot connecting the top step members. When the ladder sections are spread apart, the spreader bars pivot the inner adjacent edges of the top step members downwardly so that the step members bear against the upper ends of the ladder sections and abut each other so that tread portions of the top step members lie in a common plane whereat the linkage system is locked against further spreading action.

The stated further link on each side of the ladder is provided with an inwardly directed flange or leg which lies between the ladder sections and is adapted to be clamped or sandwiched therebetween when the ladder sections are folded together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE l is a side elevational view showing a two man step stool according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the stool in folded or collapsed position;

3,500,957 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 ice DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference at this time more particularly to FIG- URES l and 4, the step stool construction illustratively embodied therein includes, in general, a pair of ladder sections indicated generally by the reference characters 10 and 12 each of which comprises a pair of side rail members 14 and 16 interconnected rigidly by one or more steps such as that indicated generally by the reference character 18 in conjunction with each ladder section 10 and 12. Since the illustrative embodiment is directed to a step stool construction, it will be appreciated that only a single one of the intermediate steps 18 may be provided, although it will also be understood that for a stepladder or for a stool of greater height, additional intermediate steps 18 may be provided as desired and required.

The upper ends of the two sections 10 and 12 are pivotally interconnected by means of the top step mem- -bers indicated generally by the reference characters 20 and 22, the pivotal interconnections 'between the respective step members 20 and 22 being effected by the pivot pin members 24 and 26 as is shown in FIGURE 1, it being appreciated that there will be a pair of such pivot pin members for each step member to pivotally connect it to its associated ladder section 10 or 12. The members 24 and 26 conveniently may take the form of rivet elements or other constructions may suitably be employed, as desired.

As may be seen lbetter in FIGURE 3, the step members 20 and 22 may take the form of stamped plate elements provided with reinforcing and interconnecting angle elements 28 and 30 at their opposite sides. The stamping portion of each step member presents a substantially at tread portion 32 having a downwardly angled skirt 34 on its outer side and being provided with a depending ange 36 along its inner side. The angle members 28 and 30 are attached to the undersides of the tread portions 32 at either end thereof by suitable fasteners such as those indicated by the reference characters 38 and 40 in FIGURE 3. The horizontal legs 42 of the angle members 28 and 30 are abutted directly against the undersides of the tread portions 32, substantially as is shown, with their depending leg portions 44 substantially ush with the corresponding ends of the tread portions 32 and extending downwardly to lie closely adjacent the outer sides of the respective side rails 14 of the two ladder sections 10 and 12.

The angle member 28 is provided with a straight projecting tab y48 whereas the angle member 30 is provided with an outwardly offset projection or tab 50, the two tabs 48 and 50 being overlapped as is shown and pivotally interconnected by suitable rivet or like element 52. The dimensions and arrangements of the step members 20 and 22 are such that when the ladder is in the operative position as is shown in FIGURE 3, the two tread portions 32 are substantially coplanar with the ribs or anges 36 of the two step members being disposed in abutting relationship and `with the horizontal legs 42 of the angle members 28 and 30 bearing directly against the upper ends of the respective rails 14. The pivot elements 24 and 26 which secure the step members to their respective side rails 14 are located outwardly from the pivot axis established by the elements 52 so that the step members and 22 may be swung .upwardly about. their respective `ivot axes to disengage their ribs 4or flanges 36 and swing 1e Step members away from the respective upper ends if the side rails 14 substantially in the fashion as will be nderstood by a consideration of FIGURE 2.

A pair of spreader bars 56 and 58 are pivotally conected as by the rivets or like elements 60 and 62 to the ide rails 14 on opposite sides of the two ladder secions and the inner ends of each pair of spreader bars 56 nd l58 are pivotally interconnected by a suitable rivet or ke element 64 and extending between the pivot member 4 and the corresponding pivot member 52 interconnecting 1e steps 20 and 22 is a further link 66. Thus, from a tudy of FIGURES l and 2, it will be apparent that vwhen 1e parts are in the disposition shown in FIGURE l, 1e linkage system is locked to prevent further spreadig of the ladder sections and 12 by virtue of the aforelentioned bearing engagement `of the top step members 0 and 22 against the upper ends of their respective side ails 14 and it willgalso appear that when the ladder is be folded or collapsed, relative inward movement of 1e side rails 14 will cause the links `66 to be raised under ne action of the spreader bars 56 and 58 to correspondlgly pivot the top steps and 22 upwardly at their djacent inner edges ultimately for disposition of the cornonent parts as is shown in FIGURE 2. It will be under- :ood, from the above, that the linkage system includes 1e side rails 14 as a part thereof and is of such type as onstrains all of the parts to move in definite and preetermined fashion, thus preventing the ladder sections fom folding off center and assuring both a positive open- 1g and a positive closing or folding action which obvites racking or twisting of the assembly even if the lad er is carelessly manipulated during opening and particlarly closing action thereof.

To further assure stabilization of the assembly when in 1e collapsed or folded position, the links 66 are construc- :d to provide intermediate portions thereof which are of `shaped configuration in cross section, presenting the lwardly directed flanges or legs 68 which project inwardly om the opposite sides of the ladder between the secons 10 and 12 thereof, so that when the assembly is alded, the legs 68 `will be sandwiched between the cor- :sponding side rails 14, substantially as is shown in FIG- IRE 5.

The present invention, therefore, is well adapted to arry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages ientioned as well as others inherent therein. While the resently illustrative embodiment of the invention is given )r the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the etails 0f construction and arrangement of parts may be lade which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled l the art and which are encompassed within the spirit E the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A two-man ladder comprising, in combination,

a pair of ladder sections each having opposite side rails and intermediate step means interconnecting said side rails,

means for pivotally interconnecting said ladder sections at their upper ends, said means comprising a top step member associated with each ladder section, said top step members being pivotally connected to each other and pivotally connected to their Irespective ladder sections,

vspreader bar meansinterconnecting said ladder sections below said top step members,

and link means extending from said spreader bar means to said top step members for actuating said top step members directly from said ladder sections.

2. The ladder according to claim 1 wherein said link means is provided Iwith a ange portion projecting between said ladder sections and adapted to be sandwiched therebetween when the ladder sections are collapsed.

3. The ladder construction according to claim 2 wherein each top step member includes a at tread portion bridging between and overlying its respective side rails, and depending flange portions at the opposite ends of said tread portion, said flange portions extending downwardly along the outer sides of their respective side rails, said flange portions having projecting tabs with the taps of the two top step members being disposed in overlapping relation, first pivot pins connecting the overlapping tabs of said two step members, and second pivot pins connecting said anges to their respective side rails outwardly of said rst pivot pins.

4. The ladder according to claim 3 wherein said spreader bar means comprises a pair of spreader bars at each side of said ladder, the spreader barsof each pair being pivotally connected at their inner ends and pivotally con nected at their outer ends to the respective side rails.

5. The ladder according toclaim 4 wherein said link means comprises a link extending between the inner ends of each pair of said spreader bars and a corresponding rst pivot pin.

6. The ladder construction according to claim 1 wherein each top step member includes a flat tread portion bridging between and overlying its respective side rails, and depending fiange portions at the opposite ends of said tread portion, said flange portions extending downwardly along the outer sides of their respective side rails, said flange portions having projecting tabs `with the tabs of the two top step members being disposed in overlapping relation, first pivot pins connecting the overlapping tabs of said two step members, and second pivot pins connecting said anges to their respective side rails outwardly of Said rst pivot pin.

7. The ladder construction according to claim 6 wherein said spreader bar means comprises a pair of spreader bars at each side of said ladder, the spreader bars of each pair being pivotally connected at their inner ends and pivotally connected at their outer ends to the respective side rails.

8. The ladder according to claim 7 wherein said link means comprises a link extending between the inner ends of each pair of said spreader bars and a corresponding rst pivot pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,450 2/1903 Ferguson 182-125 821,391 5/1906 Wiltse 182-104 1,537,221 5/1925 Bugenhagen 182-174 3,127,953 4/1964 Shore 182-125 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 182-125 

